DARK VOYAGE

In case you haven’t guessed already, Le mal que tu m’as fait is The Damage Done in French. (A literal translation would be, ‘The evil you have done to me.’) This is a special advance edition of the novel — with a handwritten dedication by me — exclusively available for the France Loisirs book club right now. (France Loisirs is the largest book club in Europe). Later on, the book will go into wide release in France, published by Editions Télémaque.

I love the cover — it’s like seeing another Fringe alt-universe version. Back when I was suggesting possible cover images for The Damage Done to the design team at Tor/Forge, I included a body in a bathtub. I’m pretty sure I was inspired by a Sophie Hannah book, The Wrong Mother. I didn’t have any input into this cover, so I’m thrilled that someone French team had the same idea.

If you’d like to read an excerpt of Le mal que tu m’as fait, it’s available on the France Loisirs website. “C’est en voyant le ruban jaune de scène de crime sur la porte que je compris que ma sœur était morte…”

I always love the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Week, because it brings so many wonderful writers to New York. Here’s why this year’s festivities were even more fun than usual…

So thrilled that Hank Phillippi Ryan won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for THE OTHER WOMAN! That’s her Tor/Forge editor, Kristin Sevick Brown on the left and her agent, Lisa Gallagher, on the right. 

Hanging out with Reed Farrel Coleman at the Agents & Editors party.

With the beautiful and talented Kim Fay, author of THE MAP OF LOST MEMORIES, which was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine’s editor in chief, Janet Hutchings, at the Dell Magazines party.

Lovely Susan Elia MacNeal (a finalist for the Edgar for Best First Novel for MR. CHURCHILL’S SECRETARY) and her husband, Noel, at the Edgar Awards.

With Maryelizabeth Hart, co-owner of the Mysterious Galaxy bookstores and the winner of a Raven Award! We joked that we coordinated our colors…

Oh, Edgar, why must you be so delicious?

With my Sister in Crime Laura K. Curtis (one of the forces of nature behind Criminal Element).

With Kevin Egan (author of MIDNIGHT, coming this summer from Tor/Forge), Terrie Moran and Laura K. Curtis.

Lovely ladies Dana Cameron, Terrie Moran with… (blanking one this sweet woman’s name… help!). UPDATE: It’s Toni L.P. Kelner. Thanks, Marlyn Beebe!

Kim Fay with her husband, Jim, and Susan MacNeal with her husband, Neal, in the Hyatt’s bar after the awards.

You already know how passionate I am about independent bookstores, so you can guess how thrilled I was when CNN asked me to write about my top 10. The article, “Brick and Mortar: Best Indie Bookstores” is up today. I wrote it while I was mid-tour for EVIL IN ALL ITS DISGUISES, so it doesn’t include a few places I visited late, such as Minneapolis’s marvelous Once Upon a Crime. Still, the stores on the list are incredible, and I hope the story will help spread the word about them.

One of the highlights of 2012 for me was touring British Columbia for a week in June with crime writers Robin Spano, Ian Hamilton, and Deryn Collier. We had just a blast visiting local libraries that we said we’d do it all over again, next time in southwestern Ontario. Sadly, Deryn can’t make it this year, but Robin, Ian and I are counting ourselves lucky to be teaming up with author Robert Rotenberg this time around. Here’s our (crazy) schedule:

May 9, 2013, Woodstock, ON, 2pm: The Crime Tour visit the Woodstock Art Gallery (449 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON, N4S 1C2; 519-539-6761) for an event sponsored by the Woodstock Public Library. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be for sale on site by the Merrifield Book Shop (519-539-4220).

May 9, 2013, Orangeville, ON, 7pm: The Crime Tour speak at Centre Fellowship (375 Hansen Blvd., Orangeville, ON, L9W 0C2; 519-942-9421). Tickets are $10 with proceeds going to the University Women Scholarship Fund. Books will be for sale on site by BookLore (519-942-3830).

May 10, 2013, Cambridge, ON, 9:30am: The Crime Tour hit the Clemens Mill Library (50 Saginaw Parkway, Cambridge, ON, N1T 1W2; 519-740-6294). This event is free and open to the public. Books will be for sale on site by Book Express (519-621-9500).

May 10, 2013, Guelph, ON, 1pm: The Crime Tour visit the Guelph Public Library (100 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON, N1H 4J6; 519-824-6220). This event is free and open to the public. Books will be for sale on site by The Bookshelf (519-821-3311).

May 10, 2013, Brantford, ON, 4:30pm: The Crime Tour visit the Brantford Public Library (173 Colborne Street, Brantford, ON, N3T 2G8; 519-756-2220). This event is free and open to the public. Books will be for sale on site by Green Heron Books (519-442-1822).

May 11, 2013, Thornbury, ON, 1pm: The Crime Tour visit the L.E. Shore Memorial Library (173 Bruce Street South, Thornbury, ON, N0H 2P0; 519-599-3681). This event is free and open to the public. Books will be for sale on site by Jessica’s Book Nook (519-599-7361).

May 12, 2013, Orillia, ON, 1pm: The Crime Tour host “Murder and Mayhem on Mother’s Day at Manticore” at Orillia’s Manticore Books (103 Mississauga Street, Orillia, ON, L3V 1V6; 705-326-7776). This event is free and open to the public.

If we’re in your area, please come out to see us!

Guess who’s got a shiny new Facebook page? It doesn’t seem right to launch it without a book giveaway, so I’m hosting one today: just “like” the page and comment on the giveaway post, telling me which of my books you’d like to win. I’ll pick the winner before midnight tonight. I think this could be the start of a great tradition. More giveaways planned for the next few weeks!

What a whirlwind! Left Coast Crime started in Colorado Springs last Thursday, and it’s been crazy. Where do I begin…

The view from my room at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Words fail me.

The social media panel (L to R): Patricia Stoltey (grabbed by a fan who wouldn’t let her be in the picture), Janet Rudolph, Jen Forbus, me, Kiffer Brown, and Maddee James.

Hanging out with Jen Forbus.

Dinner at MacKenzie’s Chop House with a fantastic group of people. So grateful to Sandra Brannan and her husband, Joel, for a wonderful night!

The “Foreign Affairs” panel: G.M. Malliet, Ragnar Jonasson, Edith McClintock, Catriona McPherson, me, and Lourdes Venard.

At the awards banquet with Brad Parks and Chantelle Aimee Osman.

With newlywed Twist Phelan, who got married in Denver the day before Left Coast Crime began.

Award winners Rochelle Stab (who won the Watson) and Brad Parks (who scored the Lefty).

My fellow Criminal Mind Catriona McPherson with her Bruce Alexander Award.

Look what Brad Parks does when you give him an award. Bet Rochelle and Catriona were better behaved…

At the bar after the awards with Jess Lourey, Elle Lothlorien, and Dan (my surprise guest at LCC!).

You know who I love? The amazing people at Crimespree Magazine. There are plenty of reasons why, but here’s the latest: Crimespree is hosting an EVIL giveaway. Subscribe to the magazine (or renew your current subscription) and you could win one of two signed copies of EVIL IN ALL ITS DISGUISES. Deadline is March 20th. More details here. Good luck!

I spent this past weekend at the Tucson Festival of Books, and in spite of the rainy, chilly weather on Saturday, I had a fantastic time. Here’s why!

Hanging out with J.A. Jance at the Mostly Books booth. Realized that I first read one of her books in high school. She was so lovely to talk to.

I wasn’t the only Canuck who snuck into the festival — that’s Canadian YA author Joanne Levy on the left. Sweet Tricia from Mostly Books doesn’t seem to mind that she’s surrounded…

With wonderful Susan Friese, a festival volunteer. Not only did she pick me up at the airport when I arrived, but she came to one of my Saturday panels and bought my books! So glad I got to meet her.

Somehow I forgot to get a photo of my “Strong Sense of Place” panel on Saturday morning with Andy Gross, Donis Casey, and Michael McGarrity. Didn’t make that mistake again, though. With my “Other Cultures, Other Crimes” co-panelists Simon Wood, Alan Jacobson, and Donis Casey. They were terrific.

Last year, my friend Peggy Bendel told me I had to come to Tucson for the festival, and I did. This year, she said, “Next time, you have to bring Dan!” That sounds like a great idea…

Hanging out at the Sisters in Crime booth with Travis Richardson and Teresa Wong. I knew I was going to see them in Los Angeles this week, but this was a wonderful surprise!

At Gentle Ben’s for the author reception with Andy Gross, Daniel Palmer, Michael Palmer, and Chantelle Osman.

Reception was followed by Chantelle’s birthday dinner at Maynard’s, a fantastic restaurant that happens to be across the street from the Congress Hotel, where John Dillinger was gunned down.

Almost didn’t include this shot (could I be any squintier?), but one of the highlights of my TFOB weekend was meeting Isaac Kirkman. (Thank you, Joe Clifford, for introducing us online!)

At the Poisoned Pen booth with Kim Fay and Susan Vreeland. One of the best things about the TFOB was meeting awesome new-to-me authors. (BTW, Kim’s debut novel, The Map of Lost Memories, is up for an Edgar Award!)

Finally met Mysterious Galaxy’s fabulous Maryelizabeth Hart in person!

At the Clues Unlimited booth with Elizabeth Gunn and Donis Casey. Can you tell we’re having fun? We spent most of the time laughing.

Talk about saving the best for last. The “Strong Female Sleuths” panel on Sunday afternoon was hilarious, thanks to Jenn McKinlay, moderator Simon Wood, and Becky Masterman.

I’ve heard so many good things about the Tucson Festival of Books. This weekend, I’ll be attending for the first time. I have a jam-packed schedule, so it’s pretty easy to find me there:

SATURDAY

Panel: “Strong Sense of Place” — 10am-11am in the Mall Tent, with Daniel Palmer (moderator), Dana Stabenow and Christopher Reich

Book signing at the Mostly Books booth (#127-#130)  — 11am-noon

Panel: “Other Cultures, Other Crimes” — 1pm-2pm in the Bookstore, with Donis Casey (moderator) and Simon Wood

Book signing at the Sisters in Crime booth (West Mall #109-#110) — 3pm-4pm

SUNDAY

Book signing at the Poisoned Pen booth (#230-231) — 10am-11am

Book signing at the Clues Unlimited booth (#286-287) — 11am-noon

Panel: “Strong Female Sleuths” — 2:30pm-3:30pm in SU#2, with Simon Wood (moderator), Becky Masterman and Jenn MacKinley

On my last visit to Toronto, I met up with the National Post‘s Books Editor, Mark Medley. In the middle of our lunch at a Mexican restaurant called Mariachi’s, a photographer showed up. That was the first clue I had that the piece Mr. Medley was writing was going to be substantial. The story — “Hilary Davidson’s Last Resort” — is in today’s National Post, along will a photo of me with a goldfish-bowl-sized margarita (thanks to Darren Calabrese for that).

UPDATE: There’s also a piece on the National Post’s website that I wrote for its “story behind the story” series: “Hilary Davidson on Evil In All Its Disguises.”